PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sal Zork (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Shaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zork comes to the cage accompanied by Rise Against - Behind Closed Doors. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Zork
vs
Shaw

180 cm
24
160 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

175 cm
19
157 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Fenrir Fightgear
Syndicate Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sal Zork!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sam Shaw!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Tiny Johnson and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shaw throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Zork was covering up waiting for the punch and Shaw finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Zork controls Shaw momentarily but Shaw frees himself.
Shaw trying to control but Zork is working from the bottom.
Shaw slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Zork looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shaw trying to control but Zork is working from the bottom.
Shaw loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaw is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Zork pushes Shaw off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Shaw drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Zork defending against the ground and pound.

Shaw wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Zork, who protects the arm well.
Shaw working the ground and pound but Zork is defending the strikes.
Zork is trying to control Shaw's posture but Shaw avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zork tries to improve position but can't.
Shaw advances to full mount.
Zork tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Shaw is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Zork can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Shaw pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Zork can't escape the position.
Shaw can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Zork is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaw fails to advance to Zork's back.

Shaw is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Zork has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Zork!
Shaw bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Zork's guard.
Zork wants to sweep here but Shaw controlling him for the moment.
Zork is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Shaw wants to control from the top but Zork keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Zork has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Shaw has passed into side control.
Shaw wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zork keeps working.
Zork is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Zork wants to get back to full guard.

Shaw is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Zork is just riding it out for now. Shaw eventually gives up the hold.
Zork wants to control but Shaw passes into side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Shaw dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Shaw shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Zork napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Zork misses with a strike from the bottom.
Zork is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Shaw off and has taken his back!
Shaw trying to control the hands but Zork breaks the grip.
Shaw tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Zork can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Shaw is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shaw is trying to escape the mount.
Zork can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Shaw is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zork prevents Shaw from getting the reversal.
Zork tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Shaw is looking to get to half guard.
Zork is landing with some decent strikes but Shaw is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Zork throwing strikes here but Shaw is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Shaw is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Zork working the ground and pound effectively.
Shaw working to try and regain half guard.
Zork looking to control but Shaw is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Shaw manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Shaw is not content to let Zork control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zork wants to free his trapped foot but Shaw is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Zork controlling the action here.
Zork is thwarting Shaw's attempts to control the position.
Zork wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are battling for position here. Shaw manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Shaw working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Zork has passed into half guard!
Shaw tries to roll over but Zork keeps him under control.
It looks like Zork is going to stand back up.
Shaw trying to control here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zork is looking to take a break and control but Shaw is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Shaw showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Shaw misses with a series of wild punches.
Shaw looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zork is fending him off so far but Shaw persists. Nope, Zork circles away and we're back to standing.
Shaw is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Shaw shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Zork is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Shaw landing strikes, looking to finish!
Zork's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Shaw controlling the position easily from mount.

Shaw working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Zork looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Shaw! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Sam Shaw!